A Ming prince, Chu Zhu was a direct descendant of the first Ming dynasty emperor, Hung-wu Hongwu (reigned 1368–98). Upon the fall of the Ming capital, Peking, Beijing to the Manchu armies, Chu Zhu obtained the support of the pirate leader and freebooter Cheng Chih-lung Zheng Zhilong and in August 1645 proclaimed himself Ming emperor emperor of the Nan (Southern) Ming, with the reign title of Lung-wuLongwu. He reigned for about 13 months, holding court in Fukien ProvinceFujian province. When the Ch’ing Qing armies began to advance into southern China, Cheng Chih-lung Zheng Zhilong withdrew his protection of ChuZhu, who was then captured and executed.